Storm Slab on East Ridge of Tamarack

Went for a short tour up the eastern ridge of Tamarack Peak this afternoon. Blizzard conditions with decently strong winds, actively snowing, and extremely limited visibility. At 9000' the storm appears to have only produced snow, without any signs of rain present in the snowpack. Windloading was quite obvious, with the southern slopes of the ridge being scoured, and wind loading and cornices on the northern side (pic 1). We did notice some debris from what appears to have been a naturally collapsed cornice.

We dug a snow pit on the northern side of the ridge in a slightly wind sheltered area, near where we observed the collapsed cornice. The snowpack measured 95cm deep, with approximately 40 cm new snow. The new snow varied in density, with one significantly lighter layer being observed 30-35cm from the surface. A shovel shear test very easily released the storm snow atop this weak layer (pic 2), however, storm slabs were relatively soft and non cohesive. The old snow from 11/26 appeared to have compacted and set up. The bottom 2cm of the snowpack revealed that this slope still held basal facets from the earlier November snow (pic 3).